Car-Editors.news: 30.08.2023

In the rearview mirror: A "little ball" conquers Spain

When a Seat 600 drives through Barcelona, many people stop for a moment at the side of the road, smile pensively or wave to the occupants and rejoice. "In Spain, they call their spherical folk hero "Pelotilla," which brought them automotive freedom starting in 1957 and paved the way for the country's modern era. Fifty years ago, the last Seat 600 rolled off the production line in the Zona Franca in Barcelona. But its legacy continues to resonate today - and not just in the hearts of the Spanish people.

In 1957, Seat presented the 600 based on the Fiat 600 as the brand's second model. The market launch came at a time when many people in Spain still had to get by without a car and often only had a moped, motorcycle, microcar or donkey cart to get around. There were just about three cars per 1000 inhabitants. With the Seat 600, the brand now offered a compact car suitable for the masses in Spain for the first time. At the start, the model cost 65,000 pesetas, which at the time was equivalent to 3.5 average annual salaries in Spain. Nevertheless, it was a success right from the market launch. As early as 1958, Seat recorded around 100,000 advance orders for the small car.Initially, the Seat 600 had a 21.5 hp (18 hp by today's DIN standards) four-cylinder rear engine with 633 cubic capacity. That was enough for 95 km/h. Thanks to its low kerb weight of just 580 kilograms, the small car was nevertheless comparatively nippy on the road. Spaniards used it for weekend excursions or to take the whole family on vacation. Despite its small dimensions of only around 3.33 meters in length and 1.38 meters in width, the Seat 600 offered plenty of interior space thanks to its self-supporting body.Variety and recordsSeat developed more and more new concepts based on the 600 over the years - including a van variant and the four-door 800 model. However, the latter remained more of a marginal phenomenon with around 18,000 examples and is now one of the rare and sought-after derivatives of the Seat 600. However, many well-preserved examples of the original model itself are still on the roads in Spain today. In 2017, to mark the 60th anniversary of the model, Seat invited people to the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya for a world record attempt. With 787 vehicles, it became the largest Seat 600 meeting in the brand's history.Over the 16-year construction period, the model kept receiving minor changes and improvements. The Seat 600 D of 1963 came with a 767 cubic engine with 25 hp (according to DIN standards). The version 600 L Special from 1972 already had 28 hp (according to DIN standard). From 1970, the Seat 600 E provided even more pleasant mobility by replacing the rear-opening "suicide doors" with contemporary front-hinged doors. Until production was discontinued, the small car enjoyed a high level of popularity. In 1972, the year before production ended, the Barcelona plant was still delivering almost 70,000 vehicles. In total, around 800,000 vehicles left the production halls between 1957 and 1973.The icon for Seat and SpainThe Seat 600 established a tradition of successful small and subcompact cars for the Spanish brand, which has continued in recent decades with models such as the Marbella, the Mii and the Ibiza. However, the spherical "little ball" not only determined the development of Seat, but also shaped Spain's upswing in the 1960s. Many Spaniards are therefore still proud of their little Seat even 50 years after production ended - and therefore honor its success with a smile every time they meet it. (aum)